Gov's Health Care Plan Gets Hearing, Nothing Changes

The governor's health care plan was subjected to a six hour hearing yesterday. Why did it last so long? Well, there is a lot to object. SacBee:

But the six-hour hearing, which included a two-hour presentation by Kim Belshé, Schwarzenegger's secretary for health and human services, reaffirmed that both Democrats and Republicans remain opposed to major provisions of the plan.

"This is a tall order of business for the administration," Belshé acknowledged as she began her sales pitch. "I'm 5-foot-11 (and) I hope I'm up to it."

She gave it a shot, but it was indeed an impossible task. There is not a single legislator who supports it, and is willing to carry it as legislation. The hearing was a formality more than anything.

Panel members expressed admiration for Belshé's command of details but disagreed with the administration about how to pay for the $14 billion plan and provide coverage for 6.7 million uninsured Californians.

The Republican governor's proposal – which he outlined in January but put into legislative language only last month – would require both employers and employees to contribute to health care coverage.

Democrats oppose the individual mandate and want employers to pay a bigger share than Schwarzenegger proposes.

The real action is at the negotiating table. Advocates are still working on this, so it's not as if there is no hope for a deal.